Combined pressure-indicating and valve-operating mechanism



Aug. 14, 1923. 1,464.90?

" G. B. IRELAND COMBINED PRESSURE INDICATING AND VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed 001:. 7, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 hum! Aug. 14, 1923.- 3,464,90?

G. B. IRELAND COMBINED PRES SURE INDICATING AND VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct 7, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III IHHIH null) llrlulll Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

** s'rrs 4 tenor arur ounce.

GEORGE E. IRELAND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TAYLOR INSTRUMENT COMPANIES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED PRESSURE-INDICATING AND VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 731920. Serial liTo. 415,299.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn B. IRELAND, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Pressure-Indicating and Valve-Operating Mechanism; and ll. do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de- I tion with industrial processes such as those involving the employment and control of fluid pressures, fluid heating or cooling mediums, and the like, the chief object of the invention being to provide an improved mechanism adapted for indicating a range of pressure and for automatically operating a valve or valves to be controlled in accordance therewith, at any predetermined point in said range. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front exterior elevation of a mechanism embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view enlarged, with the casing removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same as viewed from the left in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed view partly in section as seen from .the line i 1 in Figure 8, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-.')*- of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The embodiment of the invention selected for disclosure at the present time is intended merely by way of illustrating of the principles involved and the preferred mode of application thereof, and is susceptible of various modifications of the details of construction and operation. The present embodiment is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with vulcanizing apparatusof a character employed for subjecting articles or material to hydraulic pressure in a heated chamber. In such apparatus it is desirable to apply the required degree of pressure before the steam or other heating medium is admitted to the chamber, and the present mvention provides mechanism, responsive to the hydraulic pressure employed, for controlling the steam valve to admit the steam when'the desired degree of pressure has been obtained. As the operating pressure desiredmay be different under different conditions, means is provided for adjusting the valve controlling parts. to operate at predetermined pressures, together with means for conveniently indicating the selected setting of such adjusting means.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a base plate 10 on which is secured a substantially cylindrical casing 11 enclosing the operating parts shown in Figure 2, over which may be placed a dial 12 enclosed by the usual glass or or stal. 'The base p ate carries an annular ii ange 13, Figure 2, on which is formed, at the right, a bracket 14 supporting a pipe joint or union 15, to

the outer end of'which is connected a pipe 16 leading to a suitable source of fluid pressure such, for example, as compressed air. To the other end of the union within the casing is connected a pipe 17 leading to a substantially cylindrical secondary valve housing 18, and communicating with a laterally tion of .the longitudinal passageway 21 fits the stem closely enough to guide the latter and the ball valve while, however, permitting the slow escape therethrough around the stem of any pressure in the passageway 20. The opposite side of the ball valve is i also provided with a stem 25 extending within a bore 26 in a plug 27 threadedly engaging in an opening 28 within the lower end of the valve housing, and a spring 29 coiled about stem 25, and bearing at its lower end against theplug and at its upper end against 7 the valve, serves to urge the latter against its seat to shut off communication from passage 19 to passage-20. The latter has communicating therewith a pipe 30 connected to a union 31 supported in a bracket 32 on the flange 13 of the base plate, and the outer end of the union communicates with a pipe 33 leading to the main valve to be controlled. The latter is preferably of thewell known diaphragm type opened by pressure transmitted through the pipe 33 and closed by a spring.

The means for operating the secondary ball valve 23 downwardly, against the pressure of its spring, to transmit pressure to the main Valve, comprises, preferably, a rod 33 connected with the upper end of the valve stem and having pivotally connected with. its upper end, as at 34, one arm of a lever 35'pivotally secured as by means of a screw 36 on a post 37. The latter is carried by a plate 38 formed with a pair of elongated slots 39 each embracing a pair' of screws 40 in the base plate, so that plate 38 is secured and guided for vertical movement on a bearing surface 41 on the base plate. Threadedly engaging an opening in post 37 is a spindle 42 having a smooth upper end or shank 43 slidably supported in a bracket 44. on the base plate. Downward movement of the spindle in its bracket is limited by a collar 45 on the spindle and a spring 46, coiled above the latter and bearing at its ends against post 37 and bracket 44, serves to maintain collar 45 of the spindle in engagement with bracket 44 but permits a yielding upwar movement of the spindle and the post 37 with which it is connected in case of excessive upward actuation of the lever 35. A squared upper end 47 of the spindle, accessible through an opening in the casing wall 11, provides for its rotation to adjust the posit1on of plate 38 and post 37 which pivotally supports the lever. The other and longer arm of the lever bears on the upper side of a post or projection 48 preferably fixed adjacent the outer end of a pressure responsive element or Bourdon spring 49, the inner end of which is supported by attachment to a post 50 on a bracket 51 on the base plate.

Communicating with the inner end 0 the Bourdon spring is a pipe or tube 52 extending downwardly adjacent the bottom of the base plate and connected with a union 53 supported in a bracket 54 on the plate. In the use of the mechanism the outer end of union 53 is connected with the hydraulic or other fluid pressure system of the press commonly employed for applying pressure to the material or articles treated in a vulcanizing container. Such fluid actuated compressing means usually operates with a comparatively high degree of pressure which would be destructive'to many forms of pressureresponsive elements such, for example, as most capsular diaphragms. This difficulty has been solved. by the employment of a heavy Bourdon spring such as described above and shown in the drawings, which readily withstands the highest pressures encountered and is capable of exerting suflicient force under pressure to easily operate pressure indicating and valve controlling mechanism.

It-is apparent from the above described construction that the application ofpressure to the Bourdon spring serves to expand or unwind the latter so as to raise the longer end of lever 35 and depress its opposite or shorter end, which, by means of rod 33, positivel opens the secondary valve. The action 0 the lever on the valve in response to the movement of the Bourdon spring may be regulated and controlled by adjustment of spindle 42 to raise or lower the pivotal support of the lever. Thus themechanism may be set to open the valve at any predetermined extent of expansion of the spring,

corresponding to any predetermined point in the range of actuation of the latter. Referring to Figure 5 it is apparent that the secondary valve is moved toward its seat by its spring 29 and by the force of the fluid pressure in passageway 19 working together, and that the valve is moved in the opposite direction against both of these forces by the rod 33, so that the secondary valve is moved in both directions by forces of a positive character. The eccentric support of lever 35, with its longer arm cooperating with the spring, tends to reduce any inaccuracy which may be present 1n the action of the latter, and facilitates accurate control of the secondary andmain valves.

The means for indicating the degree of actuation of the pressure responsive element, or Bourdon spring, comprises, preferably, a link 55 of adjustable length pivotally cpnnected with the projection 48 of the spring and also with a link 57 adjustably secured to a gear sector 58 pivotally supported at 59 on a frame 60 which in turn is plvotally supported on a spindle 61 rotatably carried by the base plate. Frame 60 has a depending arm 62 provided with a slot 63 through which loosely passes the reduced end 64 pi e spindle 65 rotating and sliding freely in a post 66 on the base plate. The reduced end 64 of the spindle threadedly engages an opening in post 67 on the base plate, and the spindle is provided with a collar 68 against which arm 62 is maintained by a collar 69 sliding on the reduced portion of the spindle and urged toward the arm by a spring 70 coiled about the spindle and bearing at itsrespective ends against collar 69 and post 67. Spindle 65 has a squared outer end 71, accessible through an opening in the casing wall 11, for rotating the spindle and thereby pivotally moving frame 60 for ad justing pivot 59 of the gear sector. The latter has its teeth 72 meshing with a pinion agoo? 73 fixed on spindle 61, and the latter projects through dial 12 and has fixed thereon a pointer 74, the end of which is movable over suitable indicia 75 on the dial. The latter in the present instance represents a range of pressures up to 2,000 pounds, and, by means of the various adjustments described above, the operation of the pointer may be adjusted to indicate accurately the fluid pressures applied at any instant to the vulcanizer press.

A means is provided for conveniently indicating the position of adjustment or setting of the pivotal support of lever 35, which determines the degree of pressure in the vulcanizer at which the secondary valve is opened, comprising, preferably, a rack bar 76, Figure 4, fixed on the lower end of plate 38 and having teeth meshing with a pinion 77 fixed on a spindle 78 rota-tably carried in a frame 79 on the base plate. Spindle 78 extends through the main dial 12 and has fixed thereon a pointer 79 movable over a small dial 80 having pressures marked thereon up to 2,000 pounds corresponding to the markings of the main dial. The adjustment of the pivotal support of lever by means of spindle 47 thus correspondingly sets the pointer 7 9 through the connections described to indicate the vulcanizer pressure corresponding to which the secondary valve is opened.

The invention thus embodies a simple and effective mechanism for indicating at all times the pressure existing in the vulcanizer press and for automatically turning on the steam or other heating medium when a pre- (lit determined pressure in the vulcanizer has been reached, thereby preventing premature application of heat in the vulcanizing chamber and consequent injury to the material or article under treatment. The parts are compactly arranged, positive and reliable in action, and readily adjustable as occasion may require, While the dial as appears in Figure 1 conveniently shows at a glance the condition of the apparatus, including the pressure applied in the vulcanizer as well as the degree of pressure at which the secondary valve is set to open.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, a pressure actuated element, a dial and pointer for indicating the degree of actuation of said element, and connections between said element and valve including an adj ustably mounted lever for operating said valve.

'2. A combined indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, an element adapted for connection with a source of pressure and to be moved thereby, means for indicating the degree of movement of said element, a lever cooperating with said element and with said valve for operating the latter, and an adjustable pivotal support for said lever to vary the action thereof.

3. A combined indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, an element adapted for connection with a source of pressure and to be moved thereby, means for indicating the degree of movement of said element, a lever cooperating with said element and with said valve for operating the latter, an adjustable pivotal support for said lever to vary the action thereof, and a dial and pointer for indicating the position of adjustment of said pivotal support.

4. A combined indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, a lBourdon spring adapted for connection with a source of relatively high pressure for actuation by the latter, means for indicating the degree of actuation of said spring, and adjustable connections between said spring and valve for operating the latter at a predetermined point in the range of actuation of said spring.

5. A combined pressure indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, a Bourdon spring adapted for connection with a source of relatively high pressure for actuation by the latter, a dial and pointer for indicating the degree of actuation of said spring, a lever connected with said spring and with said valve for operating the latter, and adjusting means for varying the movement of said lever to operate said valve at a predetermined point in the range of actuation of said spring.

6. A combined pressure indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, a Bourdon spring adapted for connection with a source of relatively high pressure for actuation by the latter, a dial and pointer for indicating the degree of actuation of said spring, a device for adjusting the action of said dial and pointer, a pivotally supported lever connected with said spring and with said valve to operate the latter, and adjusting means for said lever support for varying the movement of said lever and operating said valve at a predetermined point in the range of movement of said sprin 7. A combined indicating and regulating mechanism comprising a casing, a fluid pressure line extending through said casing, a valve in said casing controlling said line, a pressure responsive element, an indicator for indicating the degree of actuation of said element, actuating connections between said element and valve including a lever, an adjustable pivotal support for said lever,

ill

a spindle rotatably carried by the casing and having threaded connection with said support for adjusting the latter, and means for indicating the ad ustment of said support.

8. In a combined indicating and regulating mechanism, a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line, a pressure responsive element. an indicator for indicating the degree of actuation of said element, a lever connected with said element and withsaid valve for actuating the latter, a movably supported plate having a pivotal support for said lever, means for adjustably moving said plate, a dial and pointer, and a connection between said plate and pointer for indicating the adjustment of said plate.

9. In a combined indicating and regulatspring and valve for actuating the latter, a

plate slida-bly mounted on the casing and pivotally supporting said lever, a threaded spindle carried by said casing and connected with said plate for adjustably sliding the latter, andmeans for indicating the adjustment of said plate, comprising a dial and pointer and a rack and pinion connection between said plate and ointer.

GEORG B. IRELAND. 

